TI Flats Question

[GIBrat51]

As I said in post #75; I do use the TIJFs, and I do like them. But, I have to say that my "like them" comes with a few caveats:
-Tension. Although the La Bella LTFs do actually have less "pull to pitch" tension than the TIJFs (by about 6 lbs. total), TIJFs feel like low tension strings. IMO, that's due mostly to their very flexible construction. On my Alembic Epic, they're not exactly "limp", or "noodle-y", but they do feel markedly different from any of the other flats that 19 of my other basses wear. They've taken more than a little getting used to, but for what I use the Epic for? More than worth the learning curve...
-Balanced feel - or balanced tone. I won't argue with iiipope's point about TIJF's lack of balanced tension/feel. They don't feel all that bad to me, but it's definitely there. However, they do have a very balanced tone, IMO. And, that applies to quite a few strings that I like - and use. While it would be wonderful to have both balanced feel and tone, if I have to pick one? I'll take tone - every time...
- Fingers - or pick? Out of 23 basses, there are only a couple that I always play finger style, and a small handful that get played either with a pick or fingers. For the majority, it's all pick, all the time. The Alembic is one of the finger pick basses, because for me? The TIJFs are just too flexible for anything else. Yeah, I know people are going to tell me that they play TI's with a pick all the time. But, I doubt that they have 19 other basses with much stiffer flats - some that pretty much need a pick. Well, I do; and for me the contrast is just too much. For the TI's? Fingers only, please...
- Tone. While I like the TIJF's tone, IMO it is not the Alpha/Omega of flat wound tone. I've been playing basses with flats for a long time, now, and I learned early on that flats really do have a lot of tonal variety. To me, TIJF's have a very mid-forward tone, with lots of mids and highs; good-but-not-great low mids; and pretty skimpy lows. A very Modern flatwound tone, in other words. If I were limited to one, maybe two basses? And I played a lot more Modern music than I do? Yeah, I could probably make the TI's work for most of it. But, I have 23 basses, and I play mostly really old Rock; Rockabilly; and Vintage C&W. Other flats work much better for most of what I play, and I have lots of basses to put them on. For the music I do like to play, that I think needs a Modern tone? Yes, TI's are one of the flats that I use for that - and they do it very, very well...

 

[Mastermold]

As I said in post #75; I do use the TIJFs, and I do like them. But, I have to say that my "like them" comes with a few caveats:
-Tension. Although the La Bella LTFs do actually have less "pull to pitch" tension than the TIJFs (by about 6 lbs. total), TIJFs feel like low tension strings. IMO, that's due mostly to their very flexible construction. On my Alembic Epic, they're not exactly "limp", or "noodle-y", but they do feel markedly different from any of the other flats that 19 of my other basses wear. They've taken more than a little getting used to, but for what I use the Epic for? More than worth the learning curve...
-Balanced feel - or balanced tone. I won't argue with iiipope's point about TIJF's lack of balanced tension/feel. They don't feel all that bad to me, but it's definitely there. However, they do have a very balanced tone, IMO. And, that applies to quite a few strings that I like - and use. While it would be wonderful to have both balanced feel and tone, if I have to pick one? I'll take tone - every time...
- Fingers - or pick? Out of 23 basses, there are only a couple that I always play finger style, and a small handful that get played either with a pick or fingers. For the majority, it's all pick, all the time. The Alembic is one of the finger pick basses, because for me? The TIJFs are just too flexible for anything else. Yeah, I know people are going to tell me that they play TI's with a pick all the time. But, I doubt that they have 19 other basses with much stiffer flats - some that pretty much need a pick. Well, I do; and for me the contrast is just too much. For the TI's? Fingers only, please...
- Tone. While I like the TIJF's tone, IMO it is not the Alpha/Omega of flat wound tone. I've been playing basses with flats for a long time, now, and I learned early on that flats really do have a lot of tonal variety. To me, TIJF's have a very mid-forward tone, with lots of mids and highs; good-but-not-great low mids; and pretty skimpy lows. A very Modern flatwound tone, in other words. If I were limited to one, maybe two basses? And I played a lot more Modern music than I do? Yeah, I could probably make the TI's work for most of it. But, I have 23 basses, and I play mostly really old Rock; Rockabilly; and Vintage C&W. Other flats work much better for most of what I play, and I have lots of basses to put them on. For the music I do like to play, that I think needs a Modern tone? Yes, TI's are one of the flats that I use for that - and they do it very, very well...

Good points for sure. I’m using several different flats on my basses too and find TIs working and not working depending on the bass and what I need from it. I’m really interested in the LTFs to see if they deliver that bottom end.

 

[Baker69]

Well, I’ve owned a set of J344’s for a few years now, but they’ve spent more time in their packet than on any of my basses!

I’ve tried them on my Jazz Bass (once) and my Precision (twice), but only for a short amount of time on each occasion. The last time was on the Precision and I really wanted to like them and give them another chance, but at the end of the gig I couldn’t wait to swap back to my D’Addario Nickel Round Wounds!

I do tend to play quite aggressively, which could be why they haven’t worked for me? Also, I do find that they hurt my fingers! I have decided to give them one last chance on the Jazz Bass (which is the bass I really bought them for), after which they may be going on EBay.

 

[GIBrat51]

Last October, I bought my first fretless bass; a '93 Fury Anthem lined fretless. It's a 32" scale bass, and came with some kind of really nasty, coarse tape wounds on it. I've had a set of TIJF short scales in my string stash for years, and since lots of folks seem to like TI's on their fretless? Seemed like a no-brainer to me. Well... turned out to be a big "no bueno", instead. The Anthem's pickups - hand-wound by the guy that made the bass - just could not deal with modern sounding, mid-range-y flats. At all. I got sounds out of that bass, that I'd never heard in my 50+ years of playing bass. After removing the TI's, and trying several other kinds of strings - which, due to the Fury's dinosaur fang-shaped headstock and/or overly long silks, wouldn't fit? I put a set of Roto TruBass 88m tapes on it. They fit like they were made for that bass; and from the sound? Well, it's more like the bass was made for those strings. I have never heard an electric bass that sounded more like an upright bass, in my life. It's... really, truly, scary close. And, clear as a bell, too...
Anyway, I never thought that TI's wouldn't at least work on a bass, but... they sure didn't work on this one. But, I was very careful removing the TI's, and they're safely stored in a Zip-Lok bag. I'm sure something will come along that I can use them on...

 

[68Goldfish]

I'm really loving the TIJF's on my old 78 precision. Currently playing it through a mesa class A head and a super efficient two ten. There's definitely no lack of low end and I love how every note, ghost or otherwise pops right out. Playing at home alone is cool but I think in a band context or recording is where they really shine.

 

[JO6]

I’ve been a TIJF convert for years. Once finding them, they live on my 67 Höfner, 85 RIC 4003s and 11 Telecaster Bass. Tried to like them on the 99 Precision but couldn’t (wife threw that set out GRR). The P recorded great with LaBella DTF, and Smith 35 gauge round wounds.

The Höfner is my most requested bass for session work, and since switching to the TI, is practically all anybody wants. While certainly great before, it’s absolutely amazing now, easily sounds 10’ tail and deep as the Grand Canyon.

Since not actively using the Precision, it just has an old set of Smith rounds on it. Got an 09 SR780 from a friend of 40 years, in November. It’s completely original…..down to the plastic still on it, and 14yo strings. Not sure what to put on it though, but not thinking TIJF for active pickups.

For amps, I use all original 72 Bassman 100, and 68 Vox Essex.

 

[Ethan Winograd]

I have them on my pbass and I play rock and r&b with them. I love them. I just bought some half wounds to put on another bass (G&L L-1000) and they are stiffer. The reason I am experimenting is because I find the low E and F to be a little dull with the TI Jazz Flats. The rest of the neck is groovy though.